Psychotherapy  
 
Pyschotherapy treats anxiety; depression; Geriatric and Primary Caretaker Needs; Bereavement and Loss Counseling; parenting; relationship and family issues; retirement and other transitional issues.  It also assists in developing coping skills, perhaps relating to the emotional impact of a loved one's addiction, with illness or other life stressors.

Learning to improve your ability to manage these conditions and/or issues can improve the quality of daily life.

Psychotherapy
is a general term for addressing mental health concerns by talking with, in this case, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. During psychotherapy, you will learn about your condition, moods and behaviors; you will put your feelings and thoughts into words. Psychotherapy helps you learn how to take control of your life and respond to challenging situations with healthy coping skills.

There are many specific types of psychotherapy, each with its own approach. A few types I frequently use are: supportive, insight oriented, behavioral and psychodynamic psychotherapy; and often a combination of these. The type of psychotherapy that is right for you depends on your individual situation, but at the center of each is the caring relationship between myself and a patient. Insight, persuasion, suggestion, reassurance, and instruction may be utilized, so that patients may assess, recognize and deal with problematic and dysfunctional ways of thinking, emoting and behaving. Psychotherapy is also known as talk therapy, counseling, psychosocial therapy or, simply, therapy. In psychotherapy, the patient and therapist discuss the patients symptoms, thought, behaviors, wishes and emotions with the goal of clarifying and reducing psychological problems. Psychotherapy is the practice of spending time with a psychological professional, trained to help diagnose and treat mental and emotional problems.

People come to therapy to get help. The impetus for therapy is as unique and diverse as the individuals who seek it. Typically people seek therapy who are struggling with depression, anxiety, dissatisfaction or distress with interpersonal relationships, loneliness, coping with someone who is suffering from addiction, employment difficulties, inability to set or attain goals, or coping with the impact of caring for an aging parent/disabled relative. A person may experience repeated problematic cycles, a feeling of being stuck or a sense of persistently losing ground.

You should consider counseling when you are unhappy, or when your anxiety or distress is interfering with work, relationships or self-confidence or your ability to function is impaired. Counseling can be helpful when you are facing a transition, have experienced a loss or have lost motivation toward accomplishing daily tasks.

Your first therapy session is usually a time for the therapist to gather information about you. You will be asked to complete forms about your current and past physical and emotional health, and will have some discussion about what you see as the problem. All of this information helps the therapist gain a deeper understanding of your situation.

Therapy works best when you attend all of your scheduled appointments. The effectiveness of therapy depends on your active participation. It requires time, effort and regularity.
 
 




Relaxation Techniques CD  $20

Set to pleasant background music, this CD contains 3
relaxation techniques.  Maria Kerr assists you in learning to
relax your mind, as well as, your body.